how to befriend your perfectionism.
Perfectionism comes in many forms, and for me, it often means procrastinating on things I'm excited about because I'm worried I won't meet my own expectations.
When I worked in companies, this was somewhat mitigated by looming deadlines I couldn’t put off. But still, I was often disappointed with the outcome—no matter the amount of external validation.
Fast-forward to starting my own company, I struggled with the same worries. But this time, it meant so much to me I didn’t want to delay things further.
I thoroughly researched perfectionism and designed a support system that would allow me to work with it (I'll share one of my favorite reads on the topic below*).
I consciously chose to break down my goals backward into daily baby steps and treated my ideal outcome as inspiration rather than something I needed to achieve—I also tuned out of most of the business advice out there and based my work on my values and strengths.
But most importantly, I surrounded myself with kind and understanding people who don’t mind calling me out if I’m falling back into old habits, and motivate me to look at things differently.
Very early on, I also sought support from a coach. I knew I would need all the help I could get.
Perfectionism isn’t inherently bad. I love how it holds me accountable to my own standards and values. But if it’s holding us back from doing something that would mean much to us, it’s best to learn how to work with it. And if that’s something you’d like to do, don’t hesitate to reach out.
*If the text above resonates with you, I wholeheartedly recommend reading The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler. I have read many books on perfectionism, but this one is extra special and completely changed my perspective.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
